The cognitive
impairment seen in epileptics may be a consequence of either the underlying
epileptogenic process alone or it could manifest on account of the use of
antiepileptic drugs that cause cognitive impairment as an adverse effect or
both. Thus, there is a need for drugs that can suppress epileptogenesis without
contributing to or , if possible, by acting to prevent the development of
cognitive impairment. Emblica officinalis,
an Indian medicinal plant, has marked antioxidant property. The effect of seven
days pretreatment of 300, 500 and 700 mg/kg doses of hydroalcoholic extract of E. officinalis
(HAEEO) administered intraperitoneally to rats was evaluated on
pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures, cognitive deficit and oxidative
stress markers viz malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione. The 500 and 700 mg/kg
ip doses of HAEEO completely abolished the generalized tonic seizures and also
improved the retention latency in passive avoidance task. Further, HAEEO
dose-dependently ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by PTZ. These
findings suggest the potential of HAEEO to be used as an adjuvant to treatment
with antiepileptic drugs.